Windows Media Player

In order to be up and running once your operating system is installed, some basic tools are included in the deployment package, such as a media player. Even though not everybody’s cup of tea, Windows Media Player is a decent media library application that can play various audio and video formats, and features the possibility to rip and burn music.

Windows Media Player 10 belongs to the XP edition of Windows, capable of supporting most known audio and video formats while delivering decent sound quality. Windows XP fans can benefit from additional features in Windows Media Player 11, more visually appealing than its predecessor, since it was actually designed for Windows Vista (and has a cooler look about it).

Windows Media Player 10’s installation process is standard. Your intervention is required only when the file association options need to be set. In terms of looks, Windows Media Player 10 has an old, faded-colored interface that is actually in agreement with XP’s blue theme.

Windows Media Player 10 features support for the most popular media formats, such as: WMA, WMV, ASF, MP3, AVI, WAV, MPEG, MIDI, AIFF and AU. Playback provides a good sound / image quality for audio and video files. The application is able to sync playlists with over 75 portable devices (or so says Microsoft).

There’s also an option to rip songs to MP3 format (without having to use plugins), and the media player will import settings and playlist information from previous versions as soon as you install it. Aside from CD rip features, the application also sports a CD burning module, which allows users to port their playlists to Compact Discs.

To sum it up, Windows Media Player 10 has a limited category of fans, because it lacks support for important media formats and cannot play DVDs or Blu-Rays. For extra features and a friendlier interface, XP users can also try Windows Media Player 11.